How Vettel’s Past Actions Prove F1’s Bias in Punishing Max Verstappen at Interlagos

In a video that recently emerged online, Sebastian Vettel could be seen touching and even moving cars in Parc fermé. So does this mean Vettel will be summoned by the stewards, just like Max Verstappen was?

No, because the video is old, from his time at Ferrari.

But was he summoned and/or fined by the stewards back then? No.

Why?

For many potential reasons on which one can only speculate.

It should be noted beforehand that both Vettel and Verstappen’s actions are in breach of the rules of FIA.

Did Max Verstappen do the same thing as Sebastian Vettel?

When Max Verstappen touched Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, it was already ‘potentially’ in breach of rules regarding the DRS flap of the wing. As a result of Verstappen examining car No.44, he directly or indirectly found himself as a part of the ongoing investigation.

Also, both the two drivers in question are the title contenders along with their teams. So, a matter of such sensitivity and high stakes had to be examined from every angle, which was why the stewards took so long in coming to a decision – one that saw saw Max Verstappen’s bank balance fall by 50,000 euros while Lewis Hamilton’s pole position fall to P20 for the Sprint.

But Sebastian Vettel’s video is from previous seasons. And in those seasons, the German wasn’t a championship contender, and neither were the cars he was touching in breach of any rules beforehand.

And even though touching a rival’s car is illegal in all sessions, Vettel seems to do it post the checkered flag, after the race has already been decided.

So, when you consider the low stakes of the situation and its overall roleplay in the championship’s outcome as well as the ‘legitimacy’ of the cars in question, one can see why Sebastian Vettel’s actions were overlooked, if not ignored.

Is F1 biased against Verstappen?

Verstappen’s situation is like someone setting foot on a frozen lake that was already cracking, while Vettel’s situation was someone walking on a lake that was guaranteed to not crack by experts.

Although both the lakes were illegal to walk on. But the authorities looked at the more severe case.

Both Verstappen and Vettel were guilty, but in different degrees and with different outcomes.

Do you think FIA should’ve penalized Sebastian Vettel as well or were they too harsh on Max Verstappen?

Also Read: “Nice Dinner, Expensive Wine” – Max Verstappen Slams the FIA for Taking Money Out of His Pocket